What Does the Bible Say About Joy?

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”

“And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.”

“But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.”

“And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.”

“And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:”

“Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. found: or, subdued”

“And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. beside: or, he had not of his own either son or daughter: Heb. of himself”

“And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. one of: or, one that hath right to redeem”

“And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. left: Heb. caused to cease unto thee kinsman: or, redeemer”

“And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.”

“And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, the children of the captivity: Chaldee, the sons of the transportation”

“And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”

“And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. the Tirshatha: or, the governor”

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

“And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.”

“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.”

“Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.”

“Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.”

“And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. blue: or, violet”

“The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.”

“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:”

“Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. rejoicing: Heb. shouting for joy”

“A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. A dreadful: Heb. A sound of fears”

“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? short: Heb. from near”

“Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?”

“They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.”

“They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. in wealth: or, in mirth”

“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. him: that is, God”

“For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.”

“He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.”

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ungodly: or, wicked”

“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.”

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. defendest: Heb. coverest over, or, protectest them”

“I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”

“That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.”

“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”

“Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. Oh: Heb. Who will give”

“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. of mine: Heb. of my part”

“The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.”

“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. rest: Heb. dwell confidently”

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

“From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. which are: or, by they: or, their children are full”

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”

“The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

“We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.”

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!”

“For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. made him most: Heb. set him to be blessings made him exceeding: Heb. make him glad with joy”

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. his anger: Heb. there is but a moment in his anger for a night: Heb. in the evening joy: Heb. singing”

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;”

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. my glory: that is, my tongue, or, my soul”

“A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. A Psalm: or, A Psalm of David giving instruction”

“Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

“Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”

“For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”

“And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.”

“They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. abundantly: Heb. watered”

“A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.”

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. verily: Heb. in truth, or, stableness”

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Rest in: Heb. Be silent to”

“I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. a green: or, a green tree that groweth in his own soil”

“Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.”

“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. within: Heb. in the midst of my bowels”

“Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.”

“When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.”

“Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. my exceeding: Heb. the gladness of my joy”

“With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.”

“There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.”

“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.”

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

“Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. wickedness: or, substance”

“Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. Oh that: Heb. Who will give salvation, etc”

“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: marrow: Heb. fatness”

“When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”

“Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”

“But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.”

“The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.”

“But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. exceedingly: Heb. rejoice with gladness”

“The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. humble: or, meek”

“Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.”

“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.”

“For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

“When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; too: Heb. labour in mine eyes”

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.”

“Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.”

“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?”

“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.”

“In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.”

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. abide: Heb. lodge”

“Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.”

“Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. at: or, to the memorial”

“A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. praise: or, thanksgiving all: Heb. all the earth”

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”

“My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.”

“Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.”

“And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: gladness: Heb. singing”

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Praise ye: Heb. Hallelujah”